very uncertain doubtfull other things absurd and untrue As first that to be a Type of Christ is a sufficient ground of a Politicall Civill power over the Church and that typicalnesse qua typicalnesse gives those persoâ—s a power who otherwise have none the contrary unto which is in severall Reasons proved by Doctor Stewart in the second part of his Duply to M. S. page 22. and never yet answered by M. S. or any other though M. S. and many of his Brethren have written upon that argument since Secondly that he who was Head of the State was Head also of the Church in a typicall way whereas many great Divines are of another judgement and show that the Kings of Judah and the civill judicatures were formally distinct from the Ecclesiasticall and that he who was cheif in the State over civill matters was not cheif Iudge and Officer in the Church in an Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall notion of which point Master Râ—â—herford and Master Gilâ—espie having written so fully lately I shall spare to speak any thing and referre the Reader to their learned Books entiâ—uled The Divine Right of Church Government Aarons Rod Blossoming Thirdly that the people of the Iewes were interchangably a Church and a Nation so that whoever was a member of the Church was a member of the Common-wealth and vice versa of which see the Book entituled The Antient Bounds or Liberty of Conscience seated page 60. Now Master Gillespie in his Aarons Rod blossoming Book 1. chap. 2. proves strongly that the Iewish Church was formally distinct from the Iewish State and that in seven particulars as in respect of distinct Lawes distinct Acts distinct Officers so in respect of distinct Members there being Members of the Church among them who had the name of Proselyti Iustitiae and were initiated into the Iewish Religion by Circumcision Sacrifice c. that neverthelesse were restrained and secluded from Dignities Government and Preferment in the Iewish Common-wealth and from divers matriages which were free to the Israelites Master SELDEN also in that learned Book of his De Jure Natur. Gentium lib. 2. cap. 4. lib. 5. cap. 20. speaks as much of those Proselytes Proselytus justitiae utcunque novato patriae nomine Iudaeuâ— diceretur non tam quidem ciâ— is Iudaicus simpliciter censendus esset quam peregrinus sempeâ— cui jura quamplurima inter cives Secondly how do they prove that Iehu Ioash Manasseh Asa Hezekiah Iebosophat Iosiah were Types of Christ and did execuâ—e typically the kingly office of Christ in his Church were Kings in an Ecclesiasticall notion an extraordinary way not ruling only for the Church but in the Church and over it as they say Moses Ioshua David Solomon were in their persons places and actions expresse types of Iesus Christ as 't is evident in the New Testament Pen-men also of Scripture besides Prophets as well as Magistrates and so were extraordinary men that every thing they did in Religion is not a binding example to Magistrates now as many Reformed Divines have showen against the Arminians and Erastians but that Asa Iosiah Hezekiah Iehosaphat were is gratis dictum not yet proved neither were these Pen-men of holy Scripture or Prophets extraordinarily inspired but these foure great Reformers as Kings were stirred up enquiring after and directed by Prophets as the Reader may finde clearly in the stories of them in the Chronicles and Kings Besides I finde not among Divines who have written of the Types of Christ or who grant Moses David Solomon to be expresse Types that they make Asa Iosiah c. to be Types Again of Types of Christ as Divines distinguish there are particular persons types of him as Adam Noah Isaac Joseph Moses Joshua Samson David Solomon Jonah and there are such rancks and orders of men as the First-born Kings Prophets c. Now though all of the first sort are speciall particular Types of him so that the speciall things done by them do typifie and set forth Christ in many particulars of his person actions and sufferings yet the rancks and orders of men as the First-born Kings Prophets may not be typicall in all the particular persons of those ranks and orders at least to the particular acts they do in those ranks and orders but 't is enough for many in those orders to agree in common as in being Kings and Prophets as Christ was there being some in all those orders and ranks appointed of God especially and peculiarly to be the Types which others are not and for whose sakes in those orders and ranks such orders of men were instituted by God to be Types of which many instances might be given with the Reasons thereof in some of the First-born Kings c. but I shall reserve the further handling of that to a second part upon this Subject Lastly supposing Asa Josiah and those godly Kings to be Types of Christ may it not be doubted whether Jehu Ieboash Ammon Ieroboam c. were Types of Christ and did execute his kingly office who yet were commended viz. the two firâ—t for destroying false worship and reproved for not doing it constantly besides could those Kings of Israel and Iudah who yet were lawfull Kings that apostatised from all the whole worship of God the Ceremoniall Law that ordained the Types that destroyed Gods service and the Priesthood made Priests of the lowest of the people be Types of Christ and I desire to be resolved or M. S. the Author of the Antient bounds of Liberty of Conscience stated whether any wicked men were speciall Types of Christ and whether all persons who were Types of Christ were not saved Thirdly suppose these Kings of Iudah were Types of Christ in setting on the Thron of David and ruling over Iudah in Christ the King of his Church coming out of their loines yet they were temporall Kings had Civill authority Now how does it appear that what they did in punishing idolatrous Priests commâ—nding their subjects to the true worship of God they did only as Types by vertue of that Notion and not as they were temporall Kings which must be proved before their examples can be made null and I am sure the Scripture no where faith that the Kings of Iudah and Israel in what they commanded in matters of Religion they did as Types of Christ and not as Civill Magistrates 'T is one thing to be a Type and another thing to doe such things meerly qua Types and what if Christian Magistrates leaning upon this broken staffe suffering all Herefies Blasphemies and Idolatries in their Kingdomes Christ at the last day when they stand before the judgement feat they objecting for themselves the Kings of Israel and Iudah were Types of Christ and all they did was by vertue of their typicall notion shal tell them no but as Magistrates entrusted by God with a power and authority how will they be then confounded will this distinction and notion
of that knowne axiome A particulari ad universale non valet consequentia and therefore though that particular reason be ceased although I haue fully shown that never was any reason of those Laws under the old Testament for punishing of false Prophets but a meer device and a fancie t is no good consequence all the other reasons yea and the commands themselves should cease also Seventhly to that Hagiomastix saith that the punishments enjoyned by God then under the Law to be inflicted in his Church upon delinquents were more bodily and afflictive to the outward man then the punishments enjoyned under the Gospel and consequently were not only carnall or bodily but typicall also and prefignificative of those greater and more spirituall under the Gospel cutting off from his people then as of casting out from his people now cutting off under the Gospel being no where found to be used but in a metaphorical and allusive sense also to what Minus Celsus Senensis writes that that corporall punishment in Deut. 13. was a Type of eternall damnation and therefore that Law with all the rest given for the future signification of things by the comming of Christ ceased I answer as followes First I deny the punishments enjoyned by God under the Law to be inflicted in his Church upon delinquents to be bodily or afflictive at all to the outward man as by donfiscation of goods or by death but they were spirituall and inflicted upon the soules by suspension excommunication and such like spirituall censures as well as now under the Gospel T is true there were bodily outward punishments in the Civill Iudicatories inflicted then on the bodies of false Prophets Idolaters c but by the Magistrates the Civil Governors and not by the Priests the Ecclesiastical Governors in the Church of the Iewes For under the Law the Jewish Church and Common-wealth the Civil Government and Ecclesiastical the censures and punishments of Church and State were formally distinct as Master Gillespie hath fully and excellently proved in his Aarons rod blossoming in many places particularly 1. Book cap. 2. 3 4 5 and the Church of the Iewes proceeded then against false Prophets only with the sword of the Spirit and spirituall weapons and the State with the materiall Sword and bodily punishments Which truth is fully acknowledged also by Master Cotton however differing from Presbyterians about a National Church in his Answer to Master Williams Bloudy Tenet saying I should think mine eye not only obscured but the fight of it utterly put out if I should conceave as he doth that the National Church State of the Jewes did necessarily call for such weapons a speaking of a Sword of Iron or Steel to punish Hereticks more then the Congregetional State of particular Churches doth call for the same now in the dayes of the new Testament For was not the National Church of the Iewes as compleatly furnished with spirituall Armor to defend it selfe and to offend men and Divels as the particular Churches of the new Testament be Had they not power to convince false Prophets as Eliah did the Prophets of Baal Had they not power to seperate all evil doers from the fellowship of the Congregation what power have our particular Churches now which their National Church wanted or what efficacie is there found in the exercise of our power which was wanting to them It is therefore a Sophistical imagination of mans Braine to make a mans selfe or the world believe that the National Church State of the Iewes required a Civil Sword whereas the particular State of the Gospel needs no such helpe And was not the National Church of Israel as powerfully able by the same spirit to doe the same surely it was both spoken and meant of the National Church of the Jewes not by might nor by Power but my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Zach. 4. 6. So that by what I have already said Hagiomastix must either I suppose recall what he hath written of carnal bodily punishments enjoyned by God then to be inflicted in his Church upon delinquents or else must joyne with the Erastians in holding the Iewish Church and Common-wealth their Governement and Censures all one and the same Secondly The foundation upon which Hagiomastix rears this building of outward punishments under the old Testament being typical of spiritual under the new viz the Land of Canaan with the external happinesse and peace there being typical and therefore reasons a comparaâ—is and from the Analogie is sandie and unsound for the Land of Canaan with the external happinesse and long life in it whatsoever it was typical of was from what God had put into the Land being a Land healthful pleasant flowing with milke and honey abounding in excellent precious fruits the immediate blessings of God upon it and not from what came to it by the Magistrates Laws and their good Government for further satisfaction of which I wish Master Goodwin to resolve me this question whether the Land of Canaan were not typical as well in times of wars and troubles and under bad Princes as in dayes of peace and under good Princes and so to reason a comparatis to use his owne Phrase and adidem if temporall threatnings and bodily punishments inflicted upon delinquents under the old Testament were typicall and Praesignificative of greater under the Gospel they must be threatnings and bodily punishments inflicted from God upon false Prophets c not thoe executed by the Magistrates on them Thirdly Granting both Hagiomastixs foundation and the building reared upon it to be good yet they no whit prove bodily and outward punishments to be wholly taken away under the new Testament for suppose the temporal happinesse and the temporal punishments had typified more spiritual happinesse and lesse of the earth more spiritual judgements and lesse of outward or bodily sufferings under the Gospel yet it followes not they take away all outward happinesse and blessings and all outward bodily punishments there may be greater or lesser degrees of things under the old and new Testament suitable to some difference in the manner of Administration betweene the old and the new and yet not the substance of the things taken away These are knowne axioms Gradus non tollunt substantiam Magis Minus non variant speciem T is apparent by sense and experience that how much soever spirituall blessings and spiritual judgements in the dayes of the Gospel abound above the times under the Law yet they take not away all temporal outward blessings nor all temporal outward judgements but God for all that gives many outward blessings and sends many temporal judgements on the earth So supposing God should inflict more spiritual judgements on the soules of men under the new Testament and the Church greater spiritual censures then under the old it no way followes the Magistrates may inflict none at all especially when all spiritual judgements on the soule are slited and with a high hand
to punish for Murther Adulterery Theft more then for Idolatrie Blasphemie Hereâ—ie 2. Hagiomastix brings in the Church again as well as the State surely he is for a Toleration of all Heresies Blasphemies c in the Church as well as the State to have no man punished for his religion with any censure of Admonition Excommunication or Non-Communion In his M. S. he was for spiritual censures but in these 3. yeers last past the man is well improved belike to reason against any Church censure as well as State Punishment And by the way I desire the Reader to observe whatever reason in the wisedome of God there might be that nothing is set down in the Gospels of Christs charging the State with sin for not proceeding against the Sadduces c that cannot be the reason to show the unlawfulnes of Magistrates punishing Hereticks because Hagiom confesses the same of the Church that Christ charged not the Church nor the Officers with sin for not proceeding against the Sadduces and yet I suppose Hagiomastix will not openly professe t is a good Argument that no Church censures may be used against any Heretick however I am sure many of his Compeers in handling the question distinguish of a Toleration and censures granting Ecclesiastical censures though denying Civil And I am sure if Christs never charging the church nor those that bore office in her with sin for not proceeding against the Sadduces be no good argument to take away all Church censures neither is it to lay wast all Magistrates punishing in such cases 3. Christ did to the Scribes Pharisees Sadduces speak and reason against their errors yea reproved and threatned them for those errors which also is granted by Hagiomastix in doing of which he did equivalently and really presse upon them the suppressing and punishing of Heresies in persons under their power whilst he spake to men in Authoritie and denounced the judgements of God because of them He that preaches to a Prince against Idolatrie and showes the evils that will come upon a King and his Kingdome for it preaches to him to restraine Idolatrie though he doe not particularly in expresse words call upon him not to suffer any man to practice Idolatrie and therefore Christ speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees the Rulers and Elders that knew the Laws of God how Magistrates in Israel were to punish false Teachers in speaking so against false Prophets Hereticks and Sectaries as Sadduces c that was a charging them such a thing being spoken to such men to doe their duties against them which by the Law was more then if private persons and being spoken to qua such as Scribes c was a commanding them according to their places to proceed against them For t is a rule among Divines that in many things recorded in Scriptures which are delivered only in common and in general they are to be taken by every one according to their relations and places by the Magistrates according to their relation the Ministers according to theirs and the People according to their Sphere of which many instances may be given in the new Testament 4. Supposing it could be proved Christ never reproved the Jewish Church and State for suffering the Sadduces c yet it followes not Magistrates therefore should tolerate Hereticks and Sectaries and that both because Gods declaration of his mind in other parts of Scripture though not in the Gospel is a sufficient as also because there might be some particular reasons proper to the Iewish State as that Christ saw the Iewish State and Magistracie it selfe that then was to be leavened and corrupted with those errors and opinions to be either Sadduces Pharisees Scribes Herodians and such like so that to have spoken against Toleration and for punishing Sadduces c had been to have spoken to the State not to have suffered it selfe as if one should preach to the Parliament now not to tolerate but to punish themselves So was it for Christ to have urged those commands in Deut. 13. c and those examples of Iosiah Nehemiah c upon the Iewish State then 2. That in the times of Christs preaching the Civil Power of the Common-Wealth of the Jewes was much weakned if not wholly taken away from them by the Romans of which I have spoken something before page 30. and doe now adde that the Iewes had no power at all of capitall punishments then and therefore to what end should Christ charge them with those Lawes of putting false Prophets c to death for full prooâ—e of which I refer the Reader to Master Gillespies Aarons rod blossoming Book 1. chapt 3. page 29. 30 31 32 33 34 35. who learnedly proves that point both from Scripture and the Testimonies of many learned writers who have written of the Iewish Antiquities and Customes and Answers the contrary objections 3. Christ knew that Church and Common-wealth were to be certainly shortly dissolved the Christian Church to be set up and though he warned the People of those errors and wayes and denounced the judgements of God against them yet because he knew the purpose of God was to destroy the Iewish Common-wealth he might not speake for that and the other Reasons forenamed to the Magistrates as otherwise he would of which the Reader may read more in pag. 30. of this present Book And now for putting a Period to this 17. Thesis and to all the Answers given by me to those evasions brought against â—hose old Testament Lawes of Deut. 13. Deut. 17. and the rest I shall briefly adde 3 things First To cleare a little further some passages of Deut. 13. Secondly show the slightnesse and weaknesse of Hagiomast exceptions against those old Testament Laws Thirdly Show the excessive pride and folly of the man in boasting and glorying in such poor weak things as he brings against the Vindicator of the Ordinance for preventing the groth and spreading of Heresies in Sect. 34. 35 36 37 38 39 40 41. First As I shall adde two places more out of Moses Law before omitted in the beginning of the 17. Thesis to prove the Magistrates power of punishing in matters of the first Table viz Deut. 19. 16 17 18 19. and Numb 15. 30 31. the former in case of Apostaâ—ie the latter in case of blaspheming God so to all I have said of Deut. 13. I desire the Reader to observe that God having in the former chapter commanded the worshipping of the ture God and forbidden that of Idols which unquestionably is morall this 13. chap. is fitly added to it as an appendix in which God gives direction for removing the impediments opposite to his worship commanded particularly he commands the Authors of Apostasie not to be hearkned unto nor tolerated but to be punished with death and for that end that such who are obstinaâ—e and will not be amended nor regard their own salvation may be hindred at least from being an impediment to the salvation of
THE CASTING DOWN of the last and strongest hold of Satan OR A TREATISE Against Toleration And pretended Liberty of Conscience Wherein by Scripture sound Reason Fathers Schoolmen Casuists Protestant Divines of all Nations Confessions of Faith of the Reformed Churches Ecclesiastical Histories and constant practise of the most pious and wisest Emperours Princes States the best Writers of Politicks the experience of all Ages yea by divers Principles Testimonies and Proceedings of Sectaries themselves as Donatists Anabaptists Brownists Independents the unlawfulnesse and mischeif in Christian Common-wealths and Kingdoms both of a Vniversal Toleration of all Religions and Consciences and of a limited and bounded of some Sects only are clearly proved and demonstrated with all the materiall Grounds and Reasons brought for such Tolerations fully answered By THOMAS EDVVARDS Minister of the Gospel The First Part. 2 Chron 34. 32 33. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the Con 〈…〉 that pertained to the childreâ— of Israel and made all that were present in Israel to serve even to sâ—ve the Lord their God And caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Beniamin iâ—stand to it London Printed by T. R. and E. M. for George Calvert and are to be sold at the golden Fleece in the Old-Change 1647. To the Christian Reader GOod Reader I fully intended and accordingly had provided that this first Part of Anti-Toleration should have come into thy hands more compleat and perfect then it does for the present I prepared an Epistle Dedicatory to the Honourable Houses of Parliament sutable to the nature of Toleration and the Times as also a Preface and Introduction to that Argument and Subject wherein laying down the Prolegomena Praecognita of this Noble and famous Question of Liberty of Conscience as certain Distinctions about Magistrates and their Power of Errors and Opinions of Persons holding them of Toleration and Liberty as some Concessa some Negata certain mistakes and misrepresentations of the state of the Question with divers other Particulars I drew up the true state of the Question both Theologically and Politically it being a mixt question besides I purposed to have added to this Part further proofs out of the New Testament against Toleration and for the Magistrates power But these Preparatives and Additionals amounting to about some â—en sheets the reviewing perfecting and printing whereof would take up at least twenty dayes and not knowing what a Day might bring forth the Storm comming on so fast I thought it best for fear this Book might be suppressed at the Presse and never see the Sun to send it forth as it was that the Church of God at home and abroad might have the benefit of it and to reserve the rest for a second Part if God spare life and liberty In this present Tractate is handled the Scripturall part of Anti-Toleration the best foundation and only ground-work to build on wherein there are not only the Scriptures produced for proof but made good by severall reasons from the text and context with all the evasions to clude and put them off fully answered The subject matter of this Book is the great Controversie of the times Toleration being that very thing for which God hath a controversie with the Parliament and Land having most justly however t is most unjust on their part raised up that Generation not to suffer them because they have against the councel of God yea against all sense and reason let them alone and suffered them to grow to this Head I remember what God said to his people Israel that if they did not drive out the Canaanites and destroy their pictures c. they should be pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides and should vex them with their wiles What of the King of Israel because that he let go out of his hand a man appointed to destruction therefore his life should go for his life and his people for that people as also what of the Angel of Thyatira that Christ had a quarrell with him for suffering that woman Jezabel to teach and to seduce his servants And we may see how God hath now fulfilled this upon the Parliament Ministry City Kingdome vexing us and threatning heavy things against us by the Sectaries punishing us wherein we have offended In all ages and histories of the Church we shall find that Hereticks and Sectaries however whilst weak and few have pleaded for Toleration and Liberty yet when they have come to grow strong and to have power in their hands they never would suffer the Orthodox but have been the greatest tyrants and persecutors as the Arrians Donatists Anabaptists Arminians It was the observation of Augustine many hundred yeers ago and his answer to Petilian That the Donatists however they pleaded far be it from them to compell any one to their Tenets where they had power used to force the Orthodox violently and where they did not it was not for want of will but because they could not for fear of the laws or the multitude of refusers yea if any of their own party left them and came to the Orthodox they would fall upon them and beat them yea kill them and that Sect of the Donatists which was strongest would implore the help of the Magistrate against their Schismaticks the Maximinianistae and Rogatistae all which Austin shows But for a conclusion I shall turn my prayers unto God that he would give us to see and know our sin in our punishment and to give him glory in saying Righteous art thou O Lord and just are thy judgements And for the time to come to give Magistrates Ministers and his People more zeal and wisdome then to tolerate and suffer Errors Heresies and Schismes And so commending these labours to the blessing of Christ who yet lives and raigns as Luther speaks and will raign till he hath made all his enemies his footstool I remain Yours in Christ THOMAS EDWARDS The TABLE containing some of the principall Heads of this Book AVniversall Toleration is against the whole current scope and sense of all Scripture and sets up the polluted defiled consciences of men above the Scriptures p. 4 5 What God commands Persons for themselves and their own Practise he commands to them being in Power and Authoritie for all under them p. 6 7 There can be no reason given why all other persons in Authoritie as Fathers Masters c should be bound to have a care in matters of Religion over children Servants and Magistrates should have none p. 7 8 The godly Magistrates spoken of in Scripture did de facto make use of their Power to suppresse false Doctrine Seducers c 8 9 10 11 They did not only doe it de facto but de jure were approved of and rewarded by God for so doing p. 11 12 Those Magistrates who were good that out of any carnall respects forbore to use their power were sharply reproved and punished by
to performe the Covenant Fourthly he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to the Covenant and made all that were present in Israel to serve even to serve the Lord their God 2 Chron. 34. 32 33. that is all that were under his jurisdiction he kept them in such awe by his regall authority and penall lawes as they durst not but stand to the Covenant 10. THESIS As de facto 't is evident in the examples related besides divers others recorded in Scripture that good Magistrates did alwayes meddle for God and his truth against false worship and seducers so that they did it de jure and ought to do so is as clear from the approbations speciall testimonies promises rewards and blessings given by God of them made to them and bestowed by God on them for so doing There 's hardly any place mentioning what the Patriarchs Judges Kings Magistrates did in this kind but there 's some commendation some blessing some speciall testimony from God for so doing recorded in those places 2 Chron. 14. 2 3 4. Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God For he took away the Altars of the strange gods and the high places c. So 't is said of Jehosophat Hezekiah Josiah they did that which was right in the fight of the Lord are highly commended have many blessings upon themselves and their Kingdoms and all for commanding by their Princely power their subjects to good and removing all false worship and the means of it God will not hide from Abraham the thing that he was doing concerning Sodom and the reason is given because he will command his children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord. Iacob took away the strange Gods from his houshold and all that were with him and God manifests his approbation of it the terror of God was upon the Cities round about Iacob and they did not pursue after the sonnes of Iacob yea God gives such testimony to Princes and Magistrates suppressing false Prophets and false worships that he hath rewarded with temporall blessings wicked Kings for so doing as is evident in Iehu who for destroying Baal out of Israel though he departed not from the finnes of Ieroboam yet his children of the fourth generation should sit on the throne of Israel 2 Kings 10. 28 29 30. 11. THESIS Those Magistrates Judges and Princes even the dear servants of God who being in place of authority and power that out of carnall respects to wives children and other interests have suffered and tolerated Idolatry and other evils though they in their owne persons never practised much lesse commanded any such things nay disswaded from them and not used their power to restraine and hinder them have been both sharply reproved and severely punished by God for it King Solomon having power to hinder his wives from Idolatry and not doing it but suffering them God is provoked to bring wrath upon him and his family 1 King 11. 4 5 6 7 8 9. 10 11 12. to rend the Kingdome from him to stirr up an adversary unto Solomon Hadad the Edomite T is the opinion of many good Divines and that upon the first of Kings ch 11. and in answer to the Arminians upon that Article of falling from Grace that Solomon did not bring or admit Idols into the house of God neither did he command the people that either they should forsake the true worship of God or worship Idols neither can it be proved that he did in his owne person worship Idols This is only certaine that being bewitched by his Idolatrous wives he suffered them to build Altars and high places or at most commanded them to be built and this the word in the Hebrew vers 11. with thee not of thee implies as much for as much as this is done with thee implying done in his Kingdom and neer Ierusalem though not by Solomon himselfe Eli being a Judge because when his sonnes made themselves vile ht restrained them not redressed not their corruptions and abuses about the Sacrifices though he reproved and disswaded them from their wayes by many strong arguments therefore God brought fearfull ruine upon him and his house cutting off his arme and the arme of his fathers house c. as in 1 Sam. 2 3 4. chap. 't is laid down at large 12. THESIS Whereas the Patrons of Toleration except against the instances of the Judges Magistrates and Kings of Iudah and Israel as no sufficient proof for Magistrates power in suppressing falshood and commanding men to receive the truth because they were typicall Kings types of Christ as King of his Church and the Land of Canaan a typicall Land which no other Magistrates or Land beside ever were or are I desire that it may be remembred that other Magistrates Judges and Princes who were before the common wealth of Israel was erected and the judiciall lawes given and of other Common-wealths and Kingdoms did take away and punish Idolatry Blasphemy and command men under their power to worship God and some such examples are not only barely related in the Scripture but approved of Abraham Jacob and Job were before the time of Moses and Aaron before the judiciall Lawes or the Leviticall Priesthood for the Government and worship of the Jewish Church and Common-wealth were given For Abraham and Jacob that 's evident by the Book of Genesis and for Job that he lived in the time between Abraham and Moses is the judgement of many good Divines and Interpreters upon Job and that upon severall reasons given by them of which the Reader may read more in Bucolcerus Pineda Junius and Tremellius Mercerus Master Carylls Expositions on Job and divers others Now of Abraham and Iacobs commanding their children servants and all that were with them to keep the way of the Lord I have spoken of in the tenth Thesis And that in Iobs time and that out of the Land of Canam in the Land of Vz no typicall Land Idolatry and false worship were to be punished by the Magistrates is apparent by Iob 31 26 27 28. where Iob speaks of himselfe If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in brightnesse And my heart hath been secretly intised or my mouth hath kissed my band This also were an iniquity to be punished by the Iudge for I should have denied the God that is above the meaning of which place according to the judgement of the best Interpreters Mercer Merlinus Iunius Pineda and others is that Idolatry and worshiping the creatures as Sun Moon and the Heavens a worship much in use in the East where Iob lived was an iniquity worthy to be taken notice of and punished by the Judges so Mercer reads it digna est it deserves and ought to be punished by the Judges and then observe the reason for I should have denied the Lord that is above So that all false
Evangelists and Apostles are now alive by this arguments because they were alive some of them thousands and others of them many hundred yeares agoe Thirdly besides this false consequence t is evident upon many grounds that Doctrines are alive doe bind when the Publishers and writers of them are dead yea they are written for that end that they may teach and bee a rule when the men who writ them are dead that being dead by these they may yet speak as the Apostle â—om 15. 4. tells us yea many things are spoken and written to be a rule of direction to the Church intended to take place rather after their death then in their life time as the Prophecies of the Prophets and some Prophecies also of the Apostles so that it may be said as Zâ—ch chapter 1. verse 6. Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever But my words and my Statuâ—â— which I commanded my servants the Prophets did they noâ— take hold of your Fathers though Pen-men and writers of Scripture die yet their words and Doctrine take hold and place when they are dead Fourthly by this reason of holding Moses is now alive if the law of God in the old Testament binds it will follow that all Moses Doctrine the ten commandements and all he writ in the Pentatench Genesis c. are void as well as these commands about punishing false Prophets c. for they were made known and written by Moses when hee was alive and to bee found in his Books together with these lawes termed judiciall So that the Antinomian may as well say the same against the morall law under the Gospell when the ten Commandements are pressed and the Socinian and Anabaptist against those commands to put to death murtherers which now Master John Goodwin doth against these lawes in Deut. 13. c. that men may as well prove the man Moses is now alive by these commands because he was alive under the old Testament as bring those places of Scripture written by Moses to prove the morall law in force and those commands who so sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud bee shed Fifthly whatever Hagiomastix by way of scoffe hath spoken thus of proving as well Moses may be now alive t is evident besides the new Testaments Confirmation in many places of the Evangelists and Epistles of the old Testament being in force in the dayes of the Gospell of which I shall speak in the 18. THESIS and so will pare the Reader here it by name particularly ratifies the Doctrine and Authority of Moses writings and proves and urges severall things upon men under the Gospell from texts taken out of the five Books of Moses as these places in the new Testament unanswerably show Matth. 23. 2 3. Matth. 28 29 31 32. Mark 12. 26. Luke 16. 29 30 31. Luke 24. 27. John 1. 45. Acts 3. 22. Act. 26. 22. Acts 28. 23. Rom. 9. 7 9 15 16 17. Rom. 10. 6 8. Rom. 13. 8. 9. Ephes 6. 2. 3. yea severall particulars of the judiciall lawes are brought to prove duties required in the new Testament as page 56 57 60. of this Book showes and lastly Moses Authority and writings are of such sacred account under the new Testament that in the Pâ—â—lation the Book that concludes and shuts up the Canon of the new Testament the Book that speaks of things that shall be in the Church of the new Testament till the end of the world Moses his name and writing are joyned with the Lamb and that to be made use of by the most eminent and faithfull servants of God that have gotten the victory ever the beast and over his Image and over his marke and over the number of his name these standing on the sea of glasse having the harp of God sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty c. So that all these things being laid together I suppose by this time every ingenuous Reader must needs see that by this Answer to Deut. 13. c. Hagiomastix intended rather to spread a table of mirth for himselfe and his Church to feast on then to give any satisfaction to the Reverend Author of the Vindication of the printed Paper entituled an Ordinance for the preventing of Heresies c. and the rest of the Presbyterians Fourthly as to that answer of Hagiomastix p. 48. 49. they that will have the ancient law for putting Blasphemers Idolaters to death to be now in force must consequently hold t is in force not simply only as to the inflicting of death upon the offenders but in all other particulars commanded by the same Authority as not be killed after any maÌ„ner nor with any kind of death but with stones not only the seducer but the seduced themselves though whole cites not only the inhabitants but the cattel also with divers other particulars named in that of Deut. 13. For if men will urge this law as being still in force they make themselves debters to urge the execution of the whole in all the particularities and circumstances thereunto belonging For who hath any power to make an Election or Reprobation amongst the Commandements of God where God himself hath made none I reply it followes not t is no good consequence that all circumstances accessories particularities must bind because the substance of a command binds or that the substance and summe of a command must be taken away because some circumstances formes and particularities are not in force To argue a thing it selfe abolished because the modus of it binds not alwayes or that the substance and essentials must cease because divers accessories circumstantials and formes wherewith it was clothed most suitable to such a time Countrey condition of such a people are ceased is a fallacie a dicto secâ—ndum quid ad dictum simpliciter which all Logitians know is no good reasoning If I or any other Presbyterian had argued thus such a mans bond binds not now or this is not such a man hee is dead because his apparell haire place of abode with some other such accessories are changed antiquite altered we should certainly have spread a table of mirth for the Independents and therfore I judge for Hagiomastix thus to reason shows no great strength and I doe desire Mr. John Goodwin but to rub up his old Logick of the nature and difference of Substance and Accidents and then I know he will confesse though for him to confesse any thing as manifest as the light wherein he is mistaken in writing is as rare as a black Swan that Accidents may be varied and taken away salva substantia And that I may show the weaknes of this reasoning that this 13. of Deut. is therfore not in force because then the manner of punishing with stones and the person tempted to Idolatry though never so deare stoning him with divers other
cases too hard and difficult for them are commanded to goe higher to some superior Court and Assembly as those words cleerly show thou shalt arise and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall chuse This place afterwards was Jerusalem as t is said Psal 122. 5. there were set thrones of judgement and in Ierusalem did Iehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the Priests and the chiefe of the Fathers of Israel for the judgement of the Lord and for Controversies 2 Chron. 19. 8. 9. 10. Ainsworth upon the place writes that by the Iudge that shall be in those dayes is understood the high Councell and Senate of Iudges which were of the cheif of the Fathers of Israel as they who are called Priests verse 9. are called verse 12. Priest so many Iudges are called Iudge only as among the Priests one was cheife so among the Iudges one was Prince 2 Chron. 19. 11. The Hebrew records say when any doubt aâ—ose in any case to any one of Israel hee asked of the judgement Hâ—ll that was in his Citie if they knew they told it him if not then hee that enquired together with the Synedrion or with the messengers thereof went up to Jerusalem and inquired of the Synedrion that was in the Mountaine of the Temple if they knew they told it them if not then they all come to the Synedrion that was at the door of the Court yard of the Temple if theâ— knew they told it them and if not they all came to the chamber of hewen stone to the great Synedrion and enquired and Interpreters generally understand these verses of Iudicatures and Courts in Israel and of the lower Courts going to the highest the great and high Synedrion Now I find no command noâ— example recorded in Scripture of any of the Iewish Courts Ecclesiast or Civil enquiring by Vrim of morall transgressions of what sort they were and what punishments the Committers of such sins should have but still they determined according to the Law and Iudgements Ezek. 44. 24. I never read of the high Synedrion either in Scripture or any other writers of it that they were wont to give their Answer by Vrim and Thummim If we observe those instances in Scripture of enquiring by Vrim wee shall see they are inquiries made of particular persons by the Priest not by a Court and of the high Priest not as sitting in Court nor as alwayes at Ierusalem nor of Criminall cases but of going in and out to warre and such like and whoever doth but consult with the Annotations of Ainsworth Diodate and Luther English Divines the Commentaries of Lyra Piscator and others on this place will confesse t is quite another thing is here spoken of then the judgement of Vrim 3. Amesius in his Cases of Conscience in his Answer to that question whether that Law Deut. 17. 12. of putting him to death who would not hearken to the Iudge and the Priest was just resolves it was and faith the equity of that Law will easily appeare and among other reasons gives this because that place speaks of disobedience in those things which out of the Law of God are cleerly and manifestly determined verse 11. so that wee see Ames judgement in the resolution of that case is that the Answer of the Iudge or Priest was made out of the Law of God and not by Vrim and it seems that learned men never dreamt of any such thing in this Deut. 17. for among all his reasons he mentions no such thing and certainly if that were the meaning of the place which Hagiomastix puts upon it that had been such a strong reason for the equity of putting those to death who would not hearken to the Priest giving them councell immediately and infallibly from God as that Dr. Ames could not have omitted it For if Mr. Goodwin who is so kind and charitable to all Atheists Antiscripturists Blasphemers Idolaters c in his Queries upon the printed Paper entituled an Ordinance against Heresies and his Hagiomastix as that he would have no coercive power made use of against them doth yet grant there was an equity in that Law that sentence of death should passe on such that would not hearken to the Priest speaking immediately and infallibly from God and saith that for his part if the Inquisitors now can give any satisfying account of any sentence awarded against Blasphemers Hereticks that comes by infallible Revelation from God hee shall thinke it equall and meet that hee that shall doe presumptuously and not hearken unto it should be put to death then Dr. Ames who was fully for the Magistrates coercive power in matters of Religion and for putting Blasphemous Hereticks to death could not have forgotten this reason Fourthly on Deut. 17. 8 9 10 11 12. is founded by the judgement of many great Divines that which is called the Councell the great Sanhedrin at Jerusalem the Seventy Spanhemius in his third part Dubiorum Evangelicorum page 800. 801. showes that by the command of the Law this very place Deut. 17. 8 9. to this supreame Tribunall of the Synedrion were referred all things whatsoever that could not be determined of the inferior Courts or were doubtfull and had tried the severall judgements of the inferior judges Gersom Bucerus in his Dissertat de Gubernat Ecclesiae page 62. quotes this Deut. 17. 8. 9. for the generall Convention at Ierusalem to which the hardest things were brought which could not be determined in the lower judicatories Walaeus in his Tractate de Discrimine muneris politici Ecclesiastici brings this place to prove the Synedrion or Colledge at Ierusalem that if among the Iudges or Priests in the lesser Cities and Townes there fell out some things of greater moment or if any one would not rest in their sentence the cause was devolved to higher Iudges who after Davids time had their Synedrion at Ierusalem as the cheife Metrapolis of Iudâ—â— Mr Gillespie in his Aarons rod blossoming 1. Book 3. chapt writeâ— thus T is agreed upon both by Iewish and Christian Expositors that this place holds forth a supream civill Court of Iudges and the Authority of the civill Sanhedrim is mainly grounded on this very text And as the high civil Synedria is founded here so many Divines show a supream Ecclesiast Sanhedrim distinct from the Civill is held forth in this very place to which the People of God weere bound as to the supream Ecclesiasticall Court to bring all the difficult Ecclesiasticall causes which could not be determined in the lower Assemblies in which Court they were determined without any other appeale of which the Reader may find more in Walaeus Gerson Bucerus Apollonii jus Magistratus circa sacra first part page 374. and second part second chapter page 48. and aboue all others in Mr. Gillespie his Aarons Rod blossoming Book 1. chapt 3. who at large handles this point that the Iewes had an
those things by the Law So that by all this and a great deal more that might be spoken to this effect as the Magistrates and Priests combining together c. the Iewes to whom the Law was given for putting false Prophets Blasphemers to death for all the opportunitie of immediate consultation with the mouth of God himselfe by Vrim and by Prophets might in many cases have been deceived mistaken and in as great uncertaintie every way as Hagiomastix supposes the Church to be in under the new Testament Thirdly supposing and granting there had been such a certaintie and infallibilitie in the matters of Religion under the old Law as is contended for by Hagiomastix and that free of all the exceptions now spoken of yet I affirme there is an infallibilitie and certaintie under the new also in the Doctrines of faith and worship and Christian Magistrates may infallibly and certainly know such and such Doctrines to be false and such true such Practises and speeches to be Idolatrous blasphemous as well as the Iewish Magistrates did and supposing that true which Hagiomastix saith that the Iewish Magistrates had a certaintie of knowledge in all difficult cases of Relgion by the judgement of Vrim which Christian Magistrates have not yet in another way and by other means they may have a certaintie and infallibilitie that these and these Doctrines are of God and other Doctrines are not of God when there are three or foure wayes to come to the certaine knowledge of a thing a man may be sure and certaine in one or two though he have not all the wayes A Iudge who hath three or foure honest witnesses and many circumstances with the parties own confession may be certaine though he might not see the fact committed nor have all wayes of knowledge that possible may be and so may Magistrates now in this case of Religion though they should want some one way the Magistrates under the new Testament had And for the certaintie and infallibilitie in matters of Religion under the new Testament it may apeeare thus 1. Hagiomastix must confesse upon his own Principles that during the Apostles times which was under the new Testament in all difficult cases that happened about matters of Religion Christian Magistrates might have had the same opportunities of immediate and infallible Answers as under the old Apostles Prophets then having as infallible immediate Revelations from God as the high Priests and therefore in case there had been Christian Magistrates in the Apostles days they might by this reason have exercised coercive power on Apostates Hereticks and Blasphemers as well as the Iewish Magistrates by which t is apparent those Lawes about false Prophets and Blasphemers were not only old Testament Lawes proper for Moses Paedagogie but new Testament Lawes and that for the prime flourishing state of the new Testament the Apostles times Secondly the Independents and Sectaries in many of their Books Sermonâ— and Discourses tell us of a time at hand wherein there will be a new and marveilous light when wee shall cleerly and certainly know the truth of these things now so much doubted of and controverted of the nature of a visible Church of the Government of the Church and such like Now then upon Master Goodwins cleare reason the old Testament Law for the putting of false Prophets c to death should be in force under the new Testament as well as under the old because then in all difficult cases in worship Doctrine c the Christians that live in those times may infallibly and certainly know the mind and pleasure of God in them Master Goodwin in his Postscript or Appendix to Hâ—giomastix the scope of which Discourse is to make inval'd that Zach. 13. 3. from being any ground for Civill coercive Power against false Prophets among other evasions interprets the place to relate to those times of refreshing to the Iewish Church and Nation the time when God intends to build up the Iewes again into a Church of far more inward grace and holines into a Nation of far more outward beauty strength and glory then ever was their portion since they first became a Church or Nation unto this day either in the one kind or in the other Now of that particular time and day of the new Testament t is especially Prophecied that outward coercive Power shall be exercised upon false Prophets And it shall come to passe that when any shall yet Prophesit then his Father and his Mother that begat him shall say unto him Thou shalt not live for thou speakest lyes in the name of the Lord and his Father and his Mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he Prophecieth As for Hagiomast figurative sense put upon these words against the literall and proper and other his glosses to corrupt the text I shall speak to them in the 19. Thesis where I shall prove that Zach. 13. 3. to be a good proofe of the Magistrates coercive Power under the Gospel Thirdly for that time and those dayes under the new Testament between the Primitive Apostolicall Churches and the calling of the Iewes into which we fall and among which our times are to be numbred there is an infallibilitie and certaintie to be had in Doctrines of faith and Christian Religion and the best Oracles Magistrates have to direct them in matters of Religion now are not fallible and every way obnoxious unto error and mistake The Scriptures are an infallible and certaine rule the voice and word of God himselfe God speaking by them as by Vrim and Thummim Learned Bishop Davenant in his Disputation De judice ac norma fidei Cultus Christiani in answering that objection of the Papists if generall Councels could erre their should be no firme Iudgement in the Church to compose Controversies answers If the Papists speak of a humane judgement we acknowledge nonâ— so firme and infallible to which all men may safely and securely commit their faith without triall But if they speak of a divine judgement we affirme there is a firme and perpetuall judgement in the Church of all the Doctrines of faith namely the judgement of God speaking in the Scriptures for he is not to be confuted with arguments but to be reckoned among Atheists who denies in the Scriptures in the things of faith that there is a sentence pronounced by God himselfe and that intelligible firme and infallible Were those Answers by Divine inspiration and immediate Revelation So are the Scriptures of divine inspiration and immediate revelation also 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. No Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation for the Prophecie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost were those Answers sure and certaine the Oracles of God among them so are the Scriptures sure and certain Psal 19. 7. The Testimony of the
contemned Fourthly Whereas punishment by the Magistrate and cutting off by death under the old Testament in cases of Apostasie Blasphemie c is made a Ceremonie and type of excommunication under the new Testament cutting off of casting out and of eternal damnation I may truly Answer this is gratis dictum said but not proved and therefore might deny it without giving any reason and bid the Patrons of Toleration prove it but that the Civill Magistrates punishing delinquents under the old Testament was no Ceremonie nor Type I shall give these reasons 1. Ceremonies shadowes Typical things under the old Law were either of things past or things to come the remembrances of things already done or the Praesignifications of future things but Ceremonies and Types were not the signification of things present and existent Now excommunication and eternal damnation were at that time under the old Law when those commands of punishing with death the Apostate faise Prophet c were given and in use That excommunication and cutting off from the Church were in the Church of the Ieweâ— in the times of the good Kings and Magistrates punishing Idolaters c with the Civil sword let the Reader Consult Aarons Rod blossoming 1 Book 4. 5 6 7. chapt That there was Hell and eternall damnation under the old Law as well as the new both before those commands in Deut. 13. 17. were given and all along after many places of Scripture show as Isaiah 30. 33. 2 Pet. 4. Jude 5. 6 7 that mention Hell for the evil Angels Sodomites the unbeleeving Israelites that came out of Egypt and the wicked Kings of Israel and Judah and therefore that which Hagiomastix saith that cutting off from his People under the Law it exchanged for casting out from his people under the Gospel is very false for there was casting out from the Church as well then as now yea cutting off spoken of in the old Testament in many places means nothing else but casting out of the Church by excommunication for full proofe of which I referre the Reader to Aarens rod blossoming 1. Book cap. 5. pag. 55. 56 57 58 59 As also that passage is not true that the expression of cutting off where ever t is found in the Gospel is mâ—tephorical and allusive only for cutting off is used in the new Testament for cutting of by bodily death as in Gal. 5. 12. and else where the proof of which I referre to the 20. Thesis where I shall handle it fully Secondly The same things may be said with as much reason against bodily outward punishments for breaches of the second Table Adultery Murder Theft as against outward punishing for Apostasie c and if they hold not good against the second Table neither do they against the first Thirdly The Civil Magistrates punishing for moral transgressions is no Ceremonie nor Type acts of morall justice though they may sometimes be extraordinary yet they never were accounted Typical or Figurative but by such as would transforme all the Scriptures into an Allegory and Master Cotton answering such a like evasion in the Bloudy Tenet saith Did ever any Apostle or Evangelist make the judicial Laws of Moses concerning life and death ceremonial and Typical Time was when humane inventions in Gods worship were accounted superstition But now humane inventions in Doctrine may passe for currant Evangelical Divinity And in another place To make a judicial Law a figure without some light from some Scripture is to make a mans selfe wise above that which is written Fifthly the making these expresse commands of God concerning punishing Idolaters false Prophets Blasphemers types and figures of spiritual and eternal punishments of excommunication damnation c is by turning the Scriptures into an Allegory and forsaking their literal sense against the rules of interpretation given by the most Orthodox Divines as Augustine and others a making them utterly void and as opening a wide doore to all errors and foolish conceits that as often as men know not how to answer the Scriptures that crosse their Opinions and lusts and yet have a mind to keepe their Opinions they may still fly to this and say This Scripture is not to be taken litterally but mystically and Allegorically Beza in that judicious Tractate of his De Haereticis a Magistratu puniendis in Answer to Montfortius a grand Patron of Toleration in those times who in many places of his writings made use of this Invention that corporall punishment under the old Law as stoning was no figure of any bodily punishment to be now inflicted but of eternal to which we ought to leave Hereticks or else of that punishment which is inflicted not by a corporal sword but a spiritual the lively word of God writes thus For this was the speciall subtiltie of Sathan of old which yet not one almost of the ancient Fathers observed that when he could not cast the Scripture out of the Church wholly yet by vaine Allegories he made the whole Scripture unprofitable and fabuloùs so as truely there was not one peice of Scripture left free of being contaminated with these Allegories which very course also the Anabaptists and Libertines take at this day But this I would that they should at length show us out of what place of Scripture they have learned that invention and device of the shadowes and figures of the judiciall Lawes Per in Ceremonies and so in some Histories from the Authoritie of Scripture I acknowledge these things But of judicial Lawes or corporall Idolatrie which might shadow out spirituall I remember not that I have ever read any thing But for further satisfaction in this particular I refer the Reader to the Tractate of Beza page 156. 167. Sixthly supposing all Hagiomastix saith were true that those bodily punishments commanded by God under the old Law to be inflicted upon false Prophets Idolaters Seducers Blasphemers had been in some sense typical and Praesignificative of those greater and more spiritual under the Gospel yet it followes not that they are ceased now and may not be lawfully practised for they may remaine and be made use of though the other sense intended be fulfilled too there is a compound sense of some Places of Scripture litteral and historical figurative and spirituall as Weems in his Christian Synagogue second Book page 223. 224 225 226 227 228 showes in which cases when the spiritual is fulfilled eminently the literal is not abolished of which I might give many instances but shall onely name one viz. that of Deut. 25. 4. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe which treadeth out the Corne. Now though the spiritual sense of that place be the not muzling the mouth of the Ministers who labour in the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 9. yet the litteral sense holds stil that a man should forbeare to muzzle the mouth of the Oxe which treadeth out the Corâ—â— or at least t is not unlawfull to forbeare besides by the
verses about false Prophets neither doe they give out signs or wonders to confirme their calling the parties instanced in the text being of daughters to Fathers Wifes to Husbands c were not likely so much as to pretend to them the name of Prophets speaking by inspiration of some deitie but rather drawing by their neernesse of relation intimatenesse of affection opportunities of private and constant converse which many phrases in those verses the wife of the bosome thy friend which is as thy owne soule entise thee secretly thou shalt not censent unto him neither shall thine eye pity and such like imply and yet these are commanded to be put to death as well as those Prophets who openly and bodily gave out signs and wonders to confirme their being Prophets of which the Reader may be further satisfied by reading Junius his Analytical explication on Deut. 13. And as Moses in that former part of the chapter showes plainly contrary to the affirmation of Hagiomastix and other Libertines that others who perswade men to the worship of a false god besides those who pretend themselves Prophets are to be killed so in the latter part of this chapter from v. 13. he layes downe how they are to be put to death also that are guilty of Apostasie that have suffered themselves to be drawn away from the true worship of God to other gods who are so far from comming under the notion of false Prophets endeavouring to perswade men to the worship of a false God and that by affirming they spake by the inspiration of some deitie as that they fal not under the Title of Seducers at all but the seduced and therefore Iunius writing upon this Deut. 13. analyzes the whole chap. concerning Apostasies into two First the Authors entising to Apostasie in the first 11. verses Secondly those who are guilty of Apostasie who suffer themselves to be withdrawn from the worship of God in the latter part of the chapter and he showes this is another part of the chap. in which Moses speaks not of those seducing false Prophets nor the clandestine Seducers but of those who yielded to their Seducements particularly of those who publickly to the view of all are Seduced and being in publick Order as a City rest in that Apostasie by the publick authoritie of men falling from God and openly defending that impietie So Deut. 17. from verse 2. to verse 8. sets downe a Law for putting to death those who are Idolaters and Apostates simply though they never went about to entice others Iunius upon this 17. c. observes that this Law differs from that in the 13 chapt the eleven first verses because there Moses speaks of Apostates who are Dogmatists and enticers to Apostasie but here of Idolaters simply In Deut. 17. from verse 8. to verse 13. there is a Law that in ecclesiastical cases in matters of Religion as well as Civil upon going from the lower Iudicatories to the supreme to the high Priest with the Colledge of Priests the man that would doe presumptuously and would not hearken unto the Priest even that man should die which was in other cases then Blasphemie Apostasie Prophecying falsly for it appears by the scope of that place and the stream of all interpreters that in too hard matters for inferior Courts they should goe to the High Ecclesiastical Synedrion and whoever presumptuously disobeyed their sentence according to the Law though in other things then the forenamed Blasphemie c as appears by this place verse 11. 12. speaking of the Law indefinitely with that 2 Chr. 19. 8 9 10 11. compared together mentioning what cause soever shal come to you of your brethren that dwell in their Cities between Law and commandement statutes and judgements should be put to death the ground of which putting to death here commanded was not only from the nature of these sins against the first Table of the highest forme as Apostasie Blasphemie and such like but for other sinnes in points of Religion though lesser when the sentence and resolution of the high Priest with his Colledges was presumptuously disobeyed so that the punishing of wilful scorneful contempt of supreme Ecclesiasticall Government determining doubts and Controversies according to the word of God though in other cases then Apostasie Blasphemie Prophecying falsly is here commanded But having spoken so much of this Deut. 17. already in p. 101. 102 103 104 105 135 159 160. I shal not enlarge further only I shal take my leave of this Scripture by adding a passage out of Master Cottons late Book against Mr. Williams in way of answer to an evasion of his that the capital punishment prescribed against the presumptuous rejection of the sentence of the highest Court in Israel was a figure of excommunication in the Church of Christ Unto which Master Cotton replyes That Law is of moral equity in all Nations and in all Ages Hee that shall presumptuously appeale from or rise up against the cheifest or highest Court in a free state is guilty laesae Majestatis publicae and therefore as a capital offender to be censured in any free common-wealth And certainly if that part of the Law in Deut. 17. of presumptuously appealing from or rising against the sentence of the cheifest and highest Court in a free State being punished with death be of universal and perpetual equitie then punishing so far at least as to restraine those who presumptuously rise up and contemn the sentence of the highest Ecclesiastical Iudicature in a Church going according to the word of God is of universall and perpetual equitie too and the command of God in that text for punishing is against the man that will not hearken unto the Priest as well as he that will not hearken unto the Judge Deut. 18. 20. sets downe a Law that the * Prophet which shal presume to speake a word in Gods name which he commanded him not to speak shal die as well as hee that shall speake in the name of other gods which place of Scripture proves expresly against Hagiomastix that other Prophets besides those that came in the name of false gods and with other false Doctrine then that let us goe after other gods which thou hast not known and let us serve them were to be put to death The command is indefinite concerning speaking any word in Gods name which he commanded not to speak which must needs extend further then a Prophet prophecying only of turning to another God for there were many false Doctrines and false worships against the Jewish Religion besides that of Apostasie to other gods Again the scope of the words and several phrases as if the thing follow not nor come to passe thou shalt not be afraid of him show t is meant of other Doctrine then saying let us goe after other gods namely of Doctrine foretelling of some things to come whereas enticing to goe and serve other gods is de praesenti Learned * Iunius writing
his other wicked Opinions M. Goodwin what Answer wil you make to God for these pretences brought against Scripture can you think against such expresse texts such poor shifts wil serve or wil hold water in the day of judgement what if these then prove but Adams fig-leaves meer shifts and tricks of wit to put off the word and bee not real what wil you then doe for all the dishonour of God ruine of precious souls occasioned by your means wil not Gods wrath sweepe away these Cobwebs I say no more thinke upon it Master Goodwin and be not deceived God is not mocked 18. THESIS Whereas the Patrons of Toleration commonly plead that all places of Scripture both of examples and commands for Magistrates punishing in matters of Religion are only from the old Testament and t is confessed by them that under the Law before Christs comming good Magistrates both did and might exercise coercive power on false Prophets Apostates Blasphemers but now since the new Testament t is otherwise It being the Will and Command of God that since the coming of his Son the Lord Jesus a Permission of the most Paganish Jewish Turkish or Anti-Christian Consciences and Worships be granted to all men in all Nations and Countries and they only to be fought against with that sword which is only in soule matters able to conquer to â—it the sword of Gods Spirit the word of God I lay downe this Thesis That all things concerning Religion and pietie constantly practised by the godly and by God commanded under the old Testament and by him never declared to be repealed bind as firmely under the new Testament although there be no particular command nor example a new approving them as they did under the old and that in such cases the comming of Christ into the world and his death are so far from giving any dispensation or Libertie that quite contrary some things before permitted to the Jewes are by Christ now taken away and all matters in reference to Religion and Holinesse upon the comming of Christ into the world are spoken of by the Scriptures as to be kept and done with greater exactnesse and strictnesse For proof of which I lay downe these following grounds First That the Scripture of the old Testament is the Canon and Rule of faith and Practice as well as the Scripture of the New and that it equally belongs to Christians as the Books of the New which point besides that it hath been held by the Orthodox in the Church of God in all times since Christ and denied only by Hereticks as the Simoniani the Maniches Socinians Antinomians Anabaptists I shall give these reasons 1. That Christ and the Apostles all along in the new Testament prove their Doctrine by the Scriptures of the old Testament Moses and the Prophets still referring the People in all Controversies of Faith and Practice to the Scriptures of the old Testament as is evident by these places Luk. 16. 29. John 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. 2 Pet. 1. 19. cum multis aliis which are all understood of the Scriptures of the old Testament as besides many things in those texts showing as much no Scriptures of the new Testament being then extant when Christ gave those exhortations to search the Scriptures and when Timothy was a child of which Scripture the Apostle speaks which Timothy learned of a child as Chrysostome well expounds Now that was the Scripture of the old Testament because the new was not as yet committed to writing then when Timothie was a child Nay further all the texts by way of Scripture prooâ—e brought in the new Testament to prove any thing in matter of faith and manners are all quoted out of the old Testament and not the new whereupon wee see how frequently Moses the Psalms and Prophets are cited by Christ and his Apostles but to my best remembrance I doe not find in all the new Testament any place of Scripture brought to prove any thing from the new Testament but that one passage out of Pauls Epistles 2 Pet. 3. 15 16. 2. The Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 3. 16. saith All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproofe for Correction for instruction in righteousnesse Now if all Scripture be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the Scripture of the old Testament is so to and as given by inspiration is with all reverence to be acknowledged and received by Christians Againe if all Scripture be profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for Correction for instruction of righteousnesse therefore Doctrines of faith and Practises of life may be profitably fetched from thence and when things are laid downe in the old Testament they are commanded in the Scriptures they being the Scriptures too although not mentioned in the new But who so desires to be further satisfied in this question of the Scripture of the old Testament being of the same Authoritie with Christians as that of the new let him consult Bullingers Books against the Anabaptists lib. 4. cap. 4. 5 6 and Spanhemius his Disputations against the Anabaptists De usu Script V. Testaments in Ecclesia Christiana Secondly every command of God made knowne in the old Testament and never afterwards repealed nor revoked by him nor expiring in the nature of it is perpetual and in force whatever God once commands til he declares either particularly that t is not his will such a Law should any longer bind or at least generally in equivalencie obliges So that t is no good argument to say against a Practice as long as t is commanded in the old this cannot be proved out of the new Testament and therefore may not be done but rather on the contrary wee may inferre that the silence of the new Testament concerning a Law expresly and clearly delivered in the old Testament is a confirmation rather then an abrogation of it or an intimation that it is expired There are many particulars might be instanced in some expressely commanded and others forbidden in the old Testament which are not spoken of at all in the new Testament unlesse in general that yet are held by Orthodox Divines and I suppose by Hagiâ—mastix too binding under the new as many degrees of Marriages forbidden usury as Magistrates putting to death murderers and some other Malefactors with divers others that might be named Upon which occasion Master Cotton answers Master Williams If it be true that Christ gâ—ve no expresse Ordinance Praecept or President of killing men by material Swords for Religion sake It is as true that neither did he for any Breach of Civil Justice no not for murder nor Adultery And so supposing there were no new Testament proofes for the Magistrates punishing Apostates Blasphemers c. yet the old Testament affording such a cloud of witnesses is testimony abundant especially remembring what I have at large proved in divers pages of the last Thesis concerning
the nature of those commands and examples recorded in the old Testament and indeed considering how clearly largely and importunately the Magistrates power and dutie in punishing in matters of Religion is set down and pressed by the Holy-Ghost in the old Testament it had been no wonder if nothing had been said of the new the abundant urging in the old serving for a reason of silence in the new But because this rule is so fully and judiciously handled in a late Book cald Sabbatum Rediviâ—â—um viz. A Law instituted in the old Testament not abrogated in the new is of perpetuall obligation though it have not expresse â—atification in the Gospel I shall referre the Reader thither where he shall find many grounds brought to prove it extracting only one passge out of the Book Whatsoever Law in once delivered to the Church and accordingly recorded in the Law Booke the holy Scriptures even of the old Testament whosoever would claim exemption from it whether particular Person or Church must produce some what to prove that that Law is now under the Gospel repealed or at least expired more then bare saying that it is no longer in force It is so in the statute Law of our Kingdome and of all Kingdomes if a man can alledge for himselfe in point of Right or Priviledge or the Kings Councell for the Kings Rights and Pâ—erogatives any statute that was once made it stands good for all purposes unlesse they who would gainsay it can alledge and prove that such a Statute is out of date by expiration or repeale So that the proofe lies originally upon the refuser of the Law and they that would maintaine it and urge it need plead nothing more then the enacting of it once till the abrogation of it can be verified and if it be so in the Statutes of men and the positive Lawes of Kingdomes much more in those of God whose Authority in unquestionably more absolute and whose wisedome Holinesse Justice and Goodnesse is infinitely beyond that of all Princes and States in the world 3. T is granted Princes and Magistrates under the old Law before Christs comming had a coercive power in matters of Religion and did punish Blasphemers c Now 1. seeing they long had it can any proofe be brought how and upon what occasion it was taken from them can any man shew any text out of the new Testament where Christ and his Apostles took away this power from Princes or declared that however under the old Seducers and false Prophets were to be dealt with by the Civil powers yet not under the new but only with the word of God Bullinger in his fifth Book against the Anabaptists chapter 3. page 169. pleading for Magistrates power in matters of Religion speaks thus to them Are Princes and Magistrates of the new Testament endorred with lesse Spirit and power then those of the old Or in what place have Christ and his Apostles removed Christians Princes from this power of Magistrates Whatever reasons or grounds any way or in any kind there were under the old for this power of Magistrates the very same remaine now were errors and Heresies then deadly and damnable so they are now were they then spreading as a Gangrene and corrupting many so they do now were they then hateful to God so they are still were false Teachers in those times unreasonable perverse obstinate not to be convinced by words behold they are as froward and desparate in these were Princes and Magistrates then to be zealous of Gods honor and to serve the Lord not only as private persons but as Magistrates so they ought to be now and t is by the Spirit of God foretold they should Now where there is the selfe same reason there is ever the selfe same Law and Equity both under the Law and Gospel for the further proofe of which the Reader may consult Master Prynnâ— Sword of Christian Magistracy supported pag. 21. 22 23 2. It cannot seem reasonable that all other relations Parents Masters Husbands should have the same authority over their children servants wives under the Gospel as they had under the Law and that in spiritual things and the Christian Magistrate should not nay that the Power of Parents Masters Husbands should be confirmed strengthned and more largely set forth Ephes 5. 22 23 33. Ephes 6. from verse 1. to 10. Col. 3. from verse 18. to 23. 1 Pet. 2. 18 19. and the Power of Magistrates only taken away Musculus in his common places De Magistratibus speaking of the power that Fathers have over their children in matters of Religion reasons from thence that to the Magistrate the supreme Father of all his subjects whose Power is far greater then that of a Father the care of religion more belongs then to Fathers In Magistrates there is an Authoritie of supereminencie excelling all then which there cannot be a greater on earth Therefore shall not that be lawfull for such an Authority and Power which is lawfull for every Father in his owne House yea by that divine command is it not required that that should belong to the greater which belongs to the lesse that to the publick Father of the people which belongs to the private 3. God under the new Testament allowes and approves of the calling of Princes and Magistrates giving many expresse commands to Christians of subjection and obedience to them Rom. 13. from verse 1. to 6. Tit. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. the ends and uses also for which Magistrates were instituted are the same under the new Testament and old besides there is not any one text in the new Testament limiting or restraining the Power given them by God in the old and therefore their calling and Power must needs be the same Learned Bilson in his true Difference between Christian subjection and unchristian Rebellion proving the Princes power and charge by Gods Law of Deut. 17. 18 19. and by the example of the godly Kings of Israel and Judah reaching as well unto matters of Religion as other things that the sword is given them to provide that as well true Religion be maintained in their Realms as civill justice ministred that they forbid prevent and punish in all their subjects not only murders thefts and such like breaches of the second Table but also Schismes Hereâ—ies Idolatries and other offences against the first Table pertaining only to the service of God and matters of Religion answers thus the Jesuits objection the very same evasion the Sectaries have now This charge concerned none but the Kings of Israel and Iudah That refuge doth rather manifest your folly then satisfie my reason Did I pray you Sir the comming of Christ abolish the Vocation of Princes I trow not Then their office remaining as before per consequens both the same precept of God to them still dureth and also the like power to force their subjects to serve
Deum Qui volebat de publico vel alioqui de gravi negotio percontari veniebat ad sacerdotem Is indutus Ephod stabat coram arca Domini In Ephoa sine in pectorali erant inclusi duo decim lapides pretiosi in quib us nomina duodecim tribuum erant inscripta Interrogantem oportuit faciem ob vertere ad sacerdotem interrogare non quidem tam aperte ut vox audiretur nec ita etiam obscure ut tantum in anima cogitaret quae petebat Deinde sacerdoti hoc pacto reddebatur oraculum Spiritus sanctivi literae quaedam in pectorali eminebant idque vel loco vel fulgore in quibus sacerdos oraculum voluntatem Dei legebat Haec Chimbâ— Cui quantum fidei fit tribuendum nescio Potuit enim fieri ut spiritus Dei absque literis oracula ediderit per vocem summi sacerdotis cujus animum vaticinio afflasseâ— Weems Christian Synagogue Prolegomena cap. 4. The Revelation by Vrim and Thummim is not expressely set down Iosephus thinks when they were to go to battell the Priest putting his Ephod upon him if they were to march then the stones did shine but if the stones did not shine then they were to stay but this seems not to have been a sufficient way to have directed them in other cases Wherefore t is most probable that the Priest having these stones upon his breast that the Lord inspired him by his Spirit what answer to make to every question asked him * Junius in Deut. 17 9 12. Conjunctionem disjuctivam esse apparet ex vers 12. ut reipsa munera esse disparata constat ad quae haec officiorum nomina respiciunt Mr. Gillespies Aarons rod blossoming c. 3. 11. Here are two Judicatories distinguished by the disjunctive Or v. 12. which we have both in the Hebrew Chaldee Greek and in our English translation * Vide Mr. Gil lesp Aaronsrod blossoming Book 3. c. 11 12. showing fully in this Scripture a transmitting difficult cases from inferior courts to those at Ierusalem and to the supreme court there Vid Luther Piscat in locuâ— In judiciis conveniens ordo observandus est ut sc judices inferiores quuÌ„ iis oblata est causa difficilâ—c ex qua expedire se non possunt causam illam deserant ad judices superiorestanquaÌ„ juris peritiores * Nicol. lyra in Deut. 17. 8 9 10. Surge ascende i. e. in his casibus consimilibus recurrendum est ad superiores judices sâ— ad summum sacerdetem Judicem populi * Cas Consc lib. 4. cap. 4. pag. 122. Si igitur haeretici sint maniesti publice noxii debent a Magistrrtu publica potestate coerceri Si vero â—tiam manifestè blasphemi sunt in illis blasphemiis pertinaces praefracti possint etiam affici supplicio capitali * De in obedientia in illis rebus quae ex lege Dei manifesto clare determinantur * Hagiomastix page 130. * Ad hoc tribunal referebantur quaecunque non poterant definiri ab aliis vel ambigua erant varia judicia inferiorum judicum experiebantur ex praescripto legis Deut. 17. 8 9. Ainsworth Annot. on the place Weems Christian Synagogue pag. 171. * Vide Diodate English Diviues Annotations on the place * Junius in locum Et si in omnibus aliis causis ad minimum duo testes ex lege requiruntur tamen in religionis negotio unus testis ad Questionem habendam sufficit adeo vult Deus Magistratibus conservationem doctrinae commendatam esse Est autem appendix legis quae habetur supr 17. * Theodoret Quaest in Levit Quaest 33. Deprthensus est quidam qui Deum omnium blasphemauerat nondum autem Lex erat scripta De Blaspemia propterea legislator hanc legem servari jussit * Vide Nicol. Lyram Babingt in locum Lev. 24. 15 16. * Vid. Lyram in Num. 15. Nesciebant tamen qua morte dehebat mori quoniam modus mortis non fuit determinatus Exod. 13. 14. Ergo recluserunt eum quo usque scirent hoc per revelationem Domini ☜ * Lutherus in Deu. 17. 8 9 10 11. Et hâ—nc locum miro conatu Papistae ad suum IdoluÌ„â—raxerunt ut Papatum statuâ—rent * One of the Members of the Assembly was the sole Author of the Vindication of the printed paper entituled An Ordinance for the preventing of the growth of Heresies and not 3. or 4. which worthy Member could hee get any time from his often preaching and constant attendance on the Assembly wold I doubt not make Hagiomastix not only a stripling but a very child * Bilsons true difference between Christian subjection and unchristian Rebellion part 2. p. 277. ☜ * Master Goodwins Modest humble Queres about the Ordinance Quere 2. ☞ * Anapologesiates Antapologias The Preface to the Reader But for those opinions wherein I dissent from Mr. Edwards and the generality of those whom he calls his godly Orthodox Presbyterian Ministers I have bestowed so much labour and travell of soul severall wayes to satisfie my selfe in the truth of them and withal have received such abundant satisfaction from God for what I hold in them in pregnant strong cleare and rationall demonstrations on the one hand in distinct cleare and home Answer to all objections to the contrary that ever I met withall on the other hand that if light be light reason reason sense sense Scriptures Scriptures I suppose I shall never be unsetled or shaken in them though the whole world should rise up as one man to oppose me And therefore being fully perswaded resolved and possest in my judgement soule and conscience that the way of the Congregation is the Truth A Quere concerning the Church Covenant pag. 1. First confident we are as confidence it selfe an make us that there is no commandement given to the Churches for exactâ—ng any such Covenant to those that are to be admitted into Church Fellowship with them A Letter of Master John Goodwins sent to Master Thomas Goodwin pag. 12 13. Confident I am that there is a light beyond your light in these matters and which you are very capable of if your eyes by your long slumber be not over heavy to open I professe in the sight of God and in as great singlenesse and simplicity of heart as ever nâ— an in this world spake word unto you that I doe as clearly apprehend Error and mistake throughout the greatest part of your way as I doe in this conclusion that twice two makes foure The necessity of your Covenant Prolix confession of faith putting men to deliver their judgements in points of doubtfull disputations upon and before their admission into your Churches the power of the Keyes and of Ordination of Pastors to be the right and inheritance of the whole body of the Congregation and of every member indifferently and promiscuously the divine institution or peremptory necessity